Quick clamping apparatus for skis of various widths

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the quick clamping of skis of various widths is described, having two parallel guide rods on which a movable clamping jaw is guided. By means of a threaded element and an eccentric lever, the movable clamping jaw is reciprocated in the axial direction and relative to a stationary clamping jaw. In order to attain a substantially constant clamping force with such an apparatus while providing for easy manipulation, a threaded spindle, as the threaded element, is rotatably supported and is joined in a rotationally stiff manner with the eccentric lever via a member which is elastic in the axial direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a quick clamping apparatus for skis ofvarious widths, preferably having two parallel guide rods on which amovable clamping jaw is guided. The movable clamping jaw is movable backand forth in the axial direction relative to a stationary clamping jawby means of a threaded element and an eccentric lever.

In a known apparatus for quick clamping of skis of various widths ofthis type, the threaded element is held unrotatably by a fork passingthrough the stationary clamping jaw; the eccentric lever for the axialmotion is articulated on the fork in a pivotable manner. An adjustingnut is disposed on the free end of the threaded element, by which meansthe movable clamping jaw can be adjusted to the width of a particularski or skis.

Manipulating this known apparatus is relatively tedious and complicatedwhen downhill skis and the narrower cross-country skis must be fastenedin it at various times. A further disadvantage is that depending on thispreliminary adjustment, the clamping force varies in accordance with howthe preliminary adjustment is performed.

Also in the known apparatus for the quick clamping of skis, a center bitis held on the guide rods between the movable and the stationaryclamping jaws, being supported on the jaws at both ends via compressionsprings. This enables the clamping of two skis of a pair at the sametime, and the center bit is capable of automatically adjusting to acentered position between the two jaws, because of the compressionsprings. In this known apparatus, the clamping jaws and the center bitare each provided with a step disposed directly above the guide rods andforming a surface for the skis to rest on and against. Accordingly, theskis can be clamped only in a horizontal condition, unless additionalclamping jaws are used, which is relatively inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus of the above type for the quick clamping of skis, which iseasier to manipulate and with which a clamping force which issubstantially constant at all times can be attained. In such anapparatus, this object is attained by providing a rotatably supportedthreaded spindle as the threaded element, which is joined in arotationally stiff manner to the eccentric lever via a member which iselastic in the axial direction.

With the apparatus according to the invention, easy manipulation isattained in that the threaded spindle can be rotated not with a specialadjusting knob but rather with the eccentric lever already serving toeffect the clamping per se, and the movable clamping jaw can thereby beadjusted. Since the threaded spindle is not joined directly to theeccentric lever but rather in a rotationally stiff manner via a memberwhich is elastic in the axial direction, a substantially constantclamping force is attained, regardless of whether the movable clampingjaw is clamped firmly against the ski that is being fastened, or merelyrests lightly against it. Substantially less wear occurs as a result.Furthermore, this kind of clamping also simplifies and speeds up theclamping operation, since the preliminary adjustment, or movement of themovable clamping jaw toward the ski that is to be fastened, no longerneeds to be performed relatively accurately, as before.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic memberis embodied preferably by a pre-stressed tension spring.

To simplify assembly, the tension spring is in effect screwed onto aspring receiving element, so that a tractile connection in the axialdirection is readily attained, while at the same time it is assured thatthe rotatable driving connection is present via frictional engagement.In a suitable manner, the threaded spindle and the spring receivingelement both have the same threading direction, thereby preventingself-loosening of the compression spring from the spring receivingelements, even if the movable threaded jaw is tightened excessivelyagainst the ski that is being clamped.

Since the eccentric lever is provided for both the rotating drive andthe axial movement of the threaded spindle, it is suitably disposedresting on the outside of the stationary clamping jaw, via a thrustbearing.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the eccentric leveris lockable in a position of rest, such that the lever arm pointsobliquely outward; thus the movable clamping jaw is readily adjustableby rotating the threaded spindle, even if the supporting base isrelatively wide. The clamping action itself, by means of the eccentriclever, can be effected in any arbitrary circumferential position.

It is a further object of the present invention to embody an apparatusfor the quick clamping of skis such that the skis can be readily clampednot only lying flat, but edgewise as well. In such an apparatus, thisobject is attained by providing each clamping jaw with a bearing bolt,oppposite which the center bit has respective recesses.

In order to serve as bearing bolts when the skis are to be clampedhorizontally, the bearing bolts must have, for a downhill ski, a certainlength which is preferably more than half the width of the ski. Toenable clamping of cross-country skis in a horizontal position as well,the center bit is provided with the recess, in which the protrudingportion of the bearing bolt can rest when the cross-country ski isfastened in position. The same situation applies if only a single ski isclamped instead of two skis being clamped parallel to one another; thenthe bearing bolt of one jaw is supported on the center bit in therecess. At the same time, however, the bearing bolt is also providedwith a bearing surface which cooperates with the opposing bearingsurface, divided by the recess, of the center bit, so that both downhilland cross-country skis can also be clamped in place edgewise.

Accordingly, not only downhill but also cross-country skis can beclamped, singly or in pairs, either lying flat or on edge, and thisgreat number of variant clamping modes can each be performed quickly anduncomplicatedly. This great number of possible clamping modes, which isdictated by the structure of the apparatus, is attainable both incombination with the disposition of an elastic member between thethreaded spindle and the eccentric lever, and independently.

Further details and embodiments of the invention will become apparentfrom the ensuing description of exemplary embodiments, taken inconjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a quick clamping apparatus for skis accordingto a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, having aneccentric lever in the position of rest;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the quick clamping apparatus for the skis FIG.1, showing the bearing bolt at the stationary clamping jaw in cutawayform; and

FIG. 3 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of a spring receivingelement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus 11 shown in the drawing serves to clamp skis quickly,singly or in pairs, and is usable for both downhill and cross-countryskis. Clamping can be effected in either a horizontal or a verticaldirection of the skis.

As shown in the drawing, the quick clamping apparatus 11 has asupporting angle piece 12, 13 at both ends, held spaced apart from oneanother by two firmly screwed, parallel guide rods 16, 17. The quickclamping apparatus 11 can be secured to a work bench or the like withthe aid of the supporting angle pieces 12, 13. One angle piece 13 isintegral with a stationary clamping jaw 18. Opposite this clamping jawand facing the other support 12, a movable clamping jaw 19 is guided ina slidable manner on the two guide rods 16, 17. A center bit 21 is alsoslidably guided on the two guide rods 16, 17 by means of two blocks 22,23 disposed parallel to one another and held together above the guiderods 16, 17 by a central double jaw 24 of the center bit 21. The twoblocks 22, 23 are supported by identical, respective compression springs26, 27 on the opposing clamping jaws 18, 19, and the compression springs26, 27 concentrically surround the round guide rods 16, 17. In thismanner, when the position of the movable clamping jaw 19 varies relativeto the stationary clamping jaw 18, the center bit 21 is always heldapproximately centrally between these two jaws.

A threaded spindle 31 is disposed between the two guide rods 16, 17 andapproximately in the same horizontal plane, one end being screwed intoan internal thread 32 of the movable clamping jaw 19. The other end ofthe threaded spindle 31 is joined via a tension spring 33 to a tie bolt34, which passes slidably through the stationary clamping jaw 18 and isconnected at its outer end with an eccentric lever 37. The two ends 38,39, facing one another and having smaller diameters and being smooth onthe outer circumference, of the threaded spindle 31 and of the tie bolt34, respectively, are firmly joined to a pressed-on spring receivingelement 41. As shown in FIG. 3, the spring receiving element 41 has agroove 42 machined into its outer circumference in the manner of a screwthread, approximately two thread courses being provided. The pitch andthe geometric cross-sectional shape of the groove 42 correspond to thepitch and shape of the tension spring 33. In other words, the tensionspring 33 is screwed onto the spring receiving element 41 at both endswith radial biasing. The pitch direction of both the threaded spindle 31and the tension spring 33 or spring receiving element 41 is the same. Inthis manner, by means of frictional engagement, a rotationally stiffconnection is attained between each spring receiving element 41 and theassociated end of the tension spring 33, and an axial tractileconnection between them is attained by the interlocking shapes. The tiebolt 34 also has a collar 43, which in the axial position of rest of thethreaded spindle 31 is spaced part from the inside of the bearing orstationary clamping jaw 18 and defines the maximum desirable axialmovement of the threaded spindle 31.

The tie bolt 34 is pivotably joined to the fork element 44 of theeccentric lever 37 via a transversely extending shaft 46. This forkelement 44 has two contoured cam discs 47 extending parallel to oneanother and eccentric relative to the pivot shaft 46 and is joined to alever arm 49, on the free end of which a spherical knob 51 is secured.The contoured cam discs 47 have two linear, that is, flattened, sections52 and 54, between which there is a contoured section 55. The fork 44having the contoured cam discs 47 of the eccentric lever 37 is tightenedby the tension spring 33, which is also biased in the position of rest,against an axial thrust bearing 56, which is embodied as a needlebearing. In FIG. 1, the eccentric lever 37 is in the position of rest,in which the linear section 52 rests on the axial thrust bearing 56 andthe lever arm 49 points obliquely outward at an angle of approximately45°. The position in which the linear section 54, which is locateddiametrically opposite the linear section 52, rests on the axial thrustbearing 56 represents the clamped position for one or two clamped skis.

The two clamping jaws 18, 19 each have one bearing bolt 61, 62 disposedparallel to the guide rods 16, 17 and disposed in approximately the samevertical central plane as the threaded spindle 31. The two bearingsbolts 61, 62, which are of plastic and preferably polyamide, are pressedwith their end of smaller diameter into a bore 63 of the clamping jaws18, 19 and are oriented toward one another, or toward the center bit 21.The central double jaw 24 of the center bit 21 has an approximatelytrapezoidal recess 64, 65 at both ends, in the central plane, into whichthe bearing bolts 61, 62 can enter completely or partway. This isnecessary because the bearing bolts 61, 62 have a length which amountsto the majority of the width of a downhill ski and thus exceeds thewidth of a cross-country ski in the event that a cross-country ski is tobe clamped horizontally, i. e., lying flat, using the apparatusaccording to the invention. Aside from their function as a bearingsurface for a horizontally clamped ski, the bearing bolts 61, 62 alsoserve to clamp skis in the vertical position, that is, on their sides oredgewise. To this end, the bearing bolts 61, 62 each have a bearingsurface 66, 67, located opposite the respective divided bearing surfaces68, 69 of the central double jaw 24. To show this horizontal or verticalclamping position of the skis more clearly, one ski 71 is shown indot-dash lines lying horizontally on the left side, and one ski 72 isshown on the right lying vertically, that is, on edge, with the narrowside on the shoes 22, the ski 72 again being shown in dot-dash lines. Itwill be understood that the clamping has not yet been effected here.

To clamp a single ski, or both skis of a pair, the ski or skis are putin place horizontally or vertically, and then the threaded spindle 31 isdriven in rotation with the aid of the eccentric lever, so that themovable clamping jaw 19 moves toward the stationary clamping jaw 18; thecenter bit 21 substantially always occupies the central position betweenthe two clamping jaws 18, 19. This operation is continued until suchtime as the respective faces of the jaws from both directions restlightly on the ski or skis. Then the eccentric lever 37 is pivoted outof its position of rest shown in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow B,until such time as the linear section 54 rests on the axial thrustbearing 56. As the eccentric lever 37 is pivoted, the threaded spindle31 is moved slightly in the axial direction until such time as the facesof the jaw rest firmly against the ski or skis on both sides, whereupononly the tension spring 33 is tensioned further. In this way, a specificclamping force for the ski or skis is produced, defined by the tensionspring 33. If only a single ski is clamped between the center bit 21 andone of the clamping jaws 18, 19, then the threaded spindle 31 must bemoved until such time as the ski is located between the associated jawfaces, and the bearing surface of the associated unoccupied bearing boltrests on the inside surface of the recess 64, 65 of the center bit 21.Then the eccentric lever 37 can be pivoted, as described above, in orderto perform the actual clamping operation. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, both the two clamping jaws 18, 19 and the two end faces ofthe center bit 21 have grooves 73 machined into them, extending parallelto the plane of the two guide rods 16, 17 and receiving the protrudingportion of the steel edges of the skis when the skis are clamped in thehorizontal position. It will be understood that the pivoting of theeccentric lever 37 and hence the clamping of the skis placed between thejaws and the center bit can be effected in any arbitrary rotationalposition of the eccentric lever 37.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for the clamping of skis of variouswidths, comprising:two parallel, elongated guide rods; a stationaryclamping jaw engaged by the guide rods and stationary relative to theguide rods; a movable clamping jaw mounted to the guide rods for guidedreciprocal movement along the guide rods relative to the stationaryclamping jaw; eccentric lever means; a threaded spindle mounted at oneend to the movable clamping jaw; a tie bolt slidably mounted to thestationary clamping jaw and connected to the eccentric lever means; atension spring joined at one end to the threaded spindle and at theother end to the tie bolt; and a spring receiving element secured at oneend of the threaded spindle and at one end of the tie bolt, each springreceiving element having a longitudinal extent and being provided on anouter circumference thereof with a groove which has a continuouslongitudinal extent about said circumference into which said one end ofthe tension spring is secured, wherein: said threaded spindle and saideccentric lever means being connected in a rotationally stiff manner sothat a rotatable driving connection between the threaded spindle and theeccentric lever is assured; the movable clamping jaw is reciprocated bythe threaded spindle and the eccentric lever means; and the threadedspindle is rotatably by the eccentric lever means.
 2. The apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein the threaded spindle and the springreceiving element have on identical direction.
 3. The apparatus asdefined in claim 1, further comprising:an axial thrust bearing mountedto the stationary clamping jaw, and wherein the eccentric lever meansrests against the axial thurst bearing.
 4. The apparatus as defined inclaim 1, wherein the eccentric lever means includes a pivot shaft and acam disc eccentrically mouted by the pivot shaft to said lever means,said cam disc having flattened areas which define detent areas.
 5. Theapparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the eccentric lever meansfurther includes a lever arm and an axial thrust bearing, and whereinone of said flattened areas extends at an acute angle to the lever armand defines, as one of said detent positions, a rest position whenengaging the axial thrust bearing.
 6. The appartus as defined in claim1, further comprising:a center bit mounted on the guide rods between thestationary clamping jaw and the movable clamping jaw, said center bitincluding spaced apart recesses; compression springs, one on each guiderod and between the center bit and the jaws; and a bearing bolt mountedto each clamping jaw and extending toward a respective recess of saidcenter bit.
 7. The appratus as defined in claim 6, wherein each clampingjaw has a bore in which one end of its respecting bearing bolt ismounted, and wherein the bearing bolts are plastic.
 8. The apparatus asdefined in claim 7, wherein the center bit includes at least one bearingsurface facing each clamping jaw and each bearing bolt is provided onits free end with a bearing surface, which is located opposite anassociated bearing surface on the center bit.
 9. The apparatus asdefined in claim 6, wherein the clamping jaws and the center bit includehorizontally extending receiving grooves opposite one another andextending transversely to the direction of reciprocal movement of themovable clamping jaw.